Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Elizabeth Stockdale
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
In organic farming systems, fertilizing materials can be used when potassium (K) deficiency is shown, but such systems are dominantly nitrogen (N) limited and this is likely to affect crop utilization of K. The supply of K to grass/clover from a range of mineral and organically based K fertilizers and its interaction with N supply were studied in a greenhouse experiment. Sequential plant cuts were taken for yield and nutrient content determinations in crop and soil. Crop yields were limited by N: where N supply was increased either through the mineralization of N from organic materials (rapemeal, farmyard manure) or inorganic fertilizer, plant yields increased significantly. Grass/clover responded better to additional K where sufficient N was available. However, yield responses to K were generally small, even in the presence of adequate N. Of the different fertilizers, kali and MSL-K increased yields above those of the control by less than 5%, sylvinite, DKSI and farmyard manure by 10-20%, and rapemeal and potassium sulphate by more than 25%. In all treatments, K offtakes in the grass/clover were considerably greater than fertilizer K inputs. The grass/clover showed an increased uptake of Na where insufficient K was available. However, the Mg content of the grass/clover was not adversely affected by K fertilizer application. Organic farmers need to consider the soil K status, the rotational nutrient budget, the supply of all nutrients in fertilizing materials and nutrient interactions to achieve effective K management in organic farming systems.
Author(s): Fortune S, Hollies J, Stockdale EA
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Soil Use and Management
Year: 2004
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Pages: 403-409
Print publication date: 01/12/2004
ISSN (print): 0266-0032
ISSN (electronic): 1475-2743
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2004.tb00389.x
DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2004.tb00389.x
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
